Africa-Press – Zambia. The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has condemned in the strongest terms possible, calls by some senior officials and cadres of the ruling UPND for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lillian Siyuni to resign with a Purported 48-hours ultimatum being given to her to do so or face protests.
LAZ has since written to the UPND Secretary-General expressing its concern over the matter, and calling on him to immediately redress the situation within his ranks in order to prevent the breakdown of the Rule of Law.
LAZ through its Honorary Secretary Sokwani Chilembo said that the Rule of Law demands observance of the law in the conduct of public affairs by everyone with the ruling party being no exception and must take the lead in assuring the country that the Rule of Law will be respected.
In a statement, Mr Chilembo said that the fact that the calls threatening the DPP are also echoed by persons holding leadership positions in the UPND greatly concerns LAZ.
He states that the DPP is a Constitutional officeholder whose tenure is guaranteed up to the retirement age of sixty (60) years by the provisions of Article 182 of the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2016 unless she resigns out of her own volition or is removed in line with the provisions of Article 144 of the Constitution on the grounds stipulated in Article 143, which include mental or physical disability making her incapable of performing judicial functions, incompetence or gross misconduct.
He has stressed the need for the UPND officials, cadres or any citizen to follow the Constitutional provisions, and not resort to intimidating a Constitutional Officeholder.
Mr Chilembo notes that Democratic principles can only be entrenched in the country if Constitutional Officeholders, such as the DPP, are allowed to perform their functions without fear or favour, devoid of any intimidation.
Meanwhile, the Zambia National Women’s Lobby (ZNWL) has defended the women’s movement’s silence on recent attacks on Director of Public Prosecutions Lillian Siyuni by some stakeholders, especially political players.
Speaking in an interview with Q-news, Zambia National Women’s Lobby board chairperson, Daisy Ng’ambi says her organization is quiet on the matter because the DPP is being attacked in his official capacity and not on a personal level.
Mrs Ngambi says her organization would only come to the defence of the DPP if people attack her on a personal level as a woman. She, however, notes the need for aggrieved people to use proper channels to air grievances unlike trying to intimidate her to step down and using abusive language.
But Chapter One Foundation Executive Director Linda Kasonde has condemned the continued intimidation of Mrs Siyuni by political cadres. Yesterday, Patriotic Front member of the central committee and chairman for publicity and Information Raphael Nakacinda called on women organisations to defend the DPP from attacks by politicians.
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